Eva Helena Löwen

Eva Helena Löwen
Born 15 December 1743
Died 16 January 1813
Other names Eva Helena Ribbing
Spouse(s) Count Fredrik Ribbing
Baron Gustaf Macklean
Children Adolph Ribbing

Eva Helena Löwen (15 December 1743–16 January 1813), was a politically active Swedish noble socialite and royal favourite. She was active as a French agent in Sweden.

Biography

Löwen was child of Axel Löwen and Eva Horn af Ekebyholm and grandchild of Arvid Horn, married to Count Fredrik Ribbing in 1764 and to Baron Gustaf Macklean in 1796. She was the mother of Adolph Ribbing, one of the conspirators behind the murder of King Gustav III of Sweden.

Löwen was a leading figure in Stockholm society in the 1760s, described as a celebrated beauty, the capital's “Queen of fashion” and talked about for her love adventures.[1] She was also a friend of the queen, Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Crown prince Gustav was claimed to be “in love” with her, although this was not a sexual but a platonic love. In February 1768, it was noted that Charlotte Du Rietz and Eva Helena Löwen flirted with Crown Prince Gustav and attempted to seduce him. Eventually, he succumbed to the advances of the former. After the relationship with Du Rietz ended in October 1768, Gustav suggested a love affair to Eva Helena Löwen, but she refused with the motivation that his infatuation for her was surely but a whim of wounded self pride, and although she could love him, she could not come between him and her own future Queen.[2]

She is one of the confirmed names mentioned on a list from the last years of the age of liberty, consistent of influential Swedish citizens who received secret allowances from the French Crown in exchange for using their influence to lobby French interests in Swedish politics. Her French allowance consisted of a third of the salary paid to a Swedish member of parliament of this period, and almost equal to that of the President of Svea Hovrätt. Nine names are identified on the list, of which three were women. Another female agent was Christina Sofia Bielke, the mother of Magdalena Rudenschöld: women were often financed to hold salons to benefit French interests.[3]

Löwen was after the revolution of 1772 ”quite favoured” by Gustav III, and could often be seen discussing France with the monarch. In 1778, she took the side of the Queen Dowager against the King when the former accused the latter of having had Adolph Fredrik Munk af Fulkila father the Crown Prince. Löwen was even pointed out as an instigator to the rumour, and although this is not considered to have been true, it caused a break with the monarch, after which she became his enemy and is said to have directed “one thousand sarcasms” toward him. In 1792, her son, Adolph Ribbing, became one of the conspirators participating in the regicide of Gustav III.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Carl Grimberg: Svenska Folkets underbara öden VII. Gustav III:s och Gustav IV Adolfs tid 1756-1792
  2. ↑ Gerd Ribbing (1958). Gustav III:s hustru. Sofia Magdalena. Stockholm: Alb. Bonniers Boktryckeri. ISBN
  3. ↑ Norrhem, Svante : Kvinnor vid maktens sida : 1632-1772 (2007) Lund (Nordic Academic Press)